The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1887-06-04
COMMENCEMENT DAYS.
A Symposium Of Opinion on the
Propriety Of the Public Parade.

AA bCHoolS multiply especially hlgn
schools and colleges, from which stu
dents graduate" and as these increase
in numbers year by year, the old method
Of paradlng q graduating class, the men,
bers OF which must DO selected with a
view to their ability to appear well, and
who must each and all sacrifice their
last months Of school life to preparation
for this special public display, becomes
year by year mo obnoxious to the right
thinking, both among students and teach
ers. Strange to say, 1t Is the parents
who cling to the time.honorcd custom,
which has q sort Of sacramental charac.
ter to many Of them, and sets the seal
upon tho years Of study, even though
tho pupil docs nothing but dress in white
and act as spectator Of the Shower pu-
pills performances.
The dress question, too, complexities
tho matter, as II does every one In which
women are interested. 1t was simple
enough years ago when the white frock
was Of cotton, with q few tucks, was
made OF home and served for Sunday
wear afterward. But this sort Of dress.
Ing Is out OF date. One member OF q
graduating class, withwhom money isno
object, sets the fashion for tho rest, and
there arc hcart-burntngs extending over
months, and efforts to which much real
yoodi Is sacrificed, and which only result
In modification.
For school life itself has become u
very different thing from what it was
formerly, more OF a strain and cxtend-
ing over n longer period, and with sCri-
Gus work at the end OF II, into which the
thought Of white muslin frocks and
idyllic leisure does not enter. 1t is
pretty vol understood now that the col.
lego is not u fashionable school and that
II is tho door to professional life.
Fashionable mothers do not want their
daughters to receive that kind Of educa-
ton, or come In contact with tho strug-
Cling and aspiring young women,
who, by dint Of personal effort, or the
sacrifices Of harlworking parents, arc
acquiring the instrumcntnlitics by which
to carve out q future career. Every day,
every hour, every dollar to these girls Is
important. What they have donc-what
has been done for thcm-may just fall
short Of extremity; they do not want 10
be pushed TO that extremity which may
have disastrous consequences.
Tho moro earnest the girl tho more
serious the problem, SO that II Is now q
matter Of anxious discussion in many
schools, while q few have quietly solved
itfor themselves by dropping tho essay
and valcdictory business, and making
commencement" a social day for the
students and their fricnds-the talking,
whatever there is, coming in tho more
sensible shape of good counsel 10 the
pupils, instead OF high.Gown p~latitudes
from tho latter 10 their teachers and
relatives.
All, however, have not found q salts.
factory solution 10 the yexcd question
Of what can DO done to satisfy those pa,
rents and pupils who consider tho pub.
lie parade as part Of their moneys worth.
"Yhat can DO suggested as a substi.
tutcPn wrote not long since q lady prin.
cipal Of q successful Southern seminary.
.",Thc usual commencement occupies
valuable time leads TO a vulgar desire
for Individual distinction and display;
forces unjust discrimination, and lis re.
suits are often hurtful and misleading.
Can you suggest any Improvement on
the old plant"
To obtain mn answer to this question,
letters were written which elected the
following expressions Of opinion from
various responsible and authoritative
sources.
Aprofcssor Of tho University at Ann
Arbor, Mich, writes;
ConcCllFs that "cotnmciccinents' arc the
universal and approved form Of closing the
scholastic year, tho question arises aa 10
how these high days or anniversaries can DO
made Of most yaluGand Interest 70 the par
Elephants.
The rapid advance In educational methods
has not left untouched the old.timc conn
mCncCmcnt anniversaries. Tho new ideas
arc surpianting tho old til regard to It's ecie.
bratlOn and arc attracting much attention
In tho educational world.
There arc three recognized modes OF OBJ
serving commandments ~ All The mnth.
bors Of tho graduating class may deliver